Letters to the Editor - Dec. 21, 2007

Friday

Dec 21, 2007 at 3:15 AM

Obama a healer, not Clinton

To the editor: While I am not completely surprised by Foster's Daily Democrat's endorsement of Hilary Clinton ("America's next President must be a healer," Dec. 19), I am somewhat stunned by the reasoning it offers for support of her nomination.

Throughout the editorial Foster's asserts that she possesses the ability to heal the nation's wounds that divide us from our government and, more importantly, from each other. With the exception of Mayor Giuliani, I cannot think of a more polarizing candidate in either the Democratic or Republican camps.

When discussing Sen. Clinton with my neighbors, colleagues and friends, who span the entire spectrum of political ideology and thought, no candidate provokes a more vitriolic and visceral reaction than her.

In all fairness to Sen. Clinton, I frankly don't understand this profound hostility and believe much of it is unfair and unwarranted. And while my "data" is by no means empirical, still I am convinced this antipathy to Sen. Clinton is real and ubiquitous, and can't be ignored.

The challenges facing our country today — terrorism, the war in Iraq, universal health care, solvency of Social Security, poverty, the economy, individual rights versus security, the national debt, immigration, corporate greed and excess, et al. — are profound and complex. Most of the Democratic candidates have developed programs that address these cited issues in a coherent and a very similar manner. However, recent history teaches us that none of these problems will be successfully resolved in the current climate of division, acrimony and rancor. To do that America will need a special kind of leadership that speaks to our passions and desires to work together as a community again with a respect to our individuality and diversity. We cannot continue to be a house divided.

If leadership is the application of vision to achieve a common and concrete goal, I believe there is only one candidate among this wide and varied field who possesses this quality and can restore civility and a unified sense of purpose to our national dialogue. That individual is Barack Obama. His experience and record of public service in Chicago and the U.S. Senate demonstrates his unique leadership skills in uniting people to tackle the most compelling challenges.

The editors of Fosters are right when they argue that "America's next president must be a healer." Accordingly, I will vote for Sen. Obama.

Dennis B. CooperNew Durham

It won't be Hillary

To the editor: Your editorial on Dec. 19, "Clinton tops field among Democrats," is a disappointment.

When last the Clintons were in the White House there was almost non-stop scandal. White Water documents "mysteriously" appear in the White House bedroom. There were the extra-martial undertakings of Mr. Clinton and Hillary just blaming it all on others.

The entire Clinton presidency would have been a joke had it not been so sad. At the time their daughter was in school. I'll bet the "jokes" and comments were hard for her to deal with.

If Hillary is elected will it start all over again? I don't know who I'll vote for but it won't be Hillary.

Pete EldredgeSomersworth

An honest person thanked

To the editor: Thank you to the kind person who found my purse at the Rochester Post Office and returned it to the front desk Monday, Dec. 17. When I discovered I had lost my purse I became very anxious. I am so happy that there are honest and trustworthy people in our community.

Thank you again and happy holidays to you.

Janice GarranEast Rochester

What exactly is a code blue?

To the editor: I was a customer in Somersworth Wal-Mart Tuesday, ending my transaction, when my cashier suddenly left me and began walking quickly to the exit. As I looked to see what caused her to leave me, I saw other personnel with their lanyards around their necks dashing toward exits and speaking excitedly "code blue, it's a code blue!"

Where I work, a code blue is a medical emergency and I would have been more than happy to help, but these people were all leaving. I noted other shoppers just standing there like me watching Wal-Mart staff leaving and wondering what in the world was happening? Were customers supposed to be leaving too?

I stopped a Wal-Mart person leaving and asked her what was happening. She said,"It's a code blue." I asked here what that was and she said "a bomb threat."

As I left the store, I wondered what was happening to all the other customers who were not in the front of the store to see the mass exodus of Wal-Mart personnel and when would they know to leave? Who would tell them? There was no announcement made, no effort I saw to allow customers to seek safety as well.

Once I was able to get home and safe, I found I was much angrier over the lack of communication to and safety of all people in the store than the threat of the bomb. I hope this is a learning experience of a "code blue" at Wal-Mart and steps will be taken to correct this in the event of another occurrence.

Denise MichaudSomersworth

Mayor praises community effort

To the editor: Despite the frigid cold, Portsmouth's 2007 Illuminated holiday parade was a great success for both participants and spectators, thanks to generous contributions from the community and the dedication of our city departments.

I would especially like to thank Allegra Printing of Portsmouth for donating the festive banner announcing this year's grand marshals, Regal Limousine of North Hampton for ferrying the grand marshals in style, National Wrecker Service for once again donating the use of a flatbed trailer for the reviewing stand, and the citizen volunteers who helped on Parade Day despite the extremely cold weather.

For the first time in several years, the city organized the holiday parade this year with assistance from longtime production manager Norm Smith. The Public Works, Police, Recreation and Fire departments all worked hard to produce a safe and enjoyable event under the direction of parade coordinator Pat Remick acting on behalf of the city manager's office.

I also want to thank all of this year's parade participants — including grand marshals Charlie Griffin, Rev. Arthur Hilson and Sam Jarvis — for braving the cold and wind to enthusiastically participate in this festive celebration of the start of the holiday season.

Steve Marchand MayorPortsmouth

The following appear only at Fosters.com

The right endorsement

To the editor: Congratulations to Foster's for your endorsement of Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination to be our next president. Your editorial mirrored many of my own feelings about Hillary.

Yes, she will be standing up for us every single day. Yes, she has the experience and the will to restore our respect in the world community.

This is an important election for everyone in the country. I hope that voters will take your editorial endorsement to heart and vote for Hillary Clinton to be our next president.

Elizabeth LinskyDurham

Dedicated to Leeland Eisenberg

To the editor: You write a letter to try and make things right for all the wrong things you did that night.

There was no good reason for you to do what you did, so don't be blaming it on things from when you were a kid.

Everyone has their times in life when they try everything and nothing seems right.

You chose to live the life you have; it is no one's fault it all went bad, so the words you wrote in your letter do not and will not make the situation better.

No matter how much praying you do, the public has every right to be angry with you.

I hope you get what you deserve, even if it is 20 years served.

Jessica GautreauRochester

Civil unions info missing

To the editor: An important fact was deleted from last week's Associated Press article on the civil union ceremony planned to take place on the State House steps on 12:01 a.m. on Jan. 1. Pre-registration is necessary for the 20 couples who will be joined in civil union during the first minutes of the New Year.

Couples may obtain registration forms by e-mailing Agreemetrocast.net. The forms are to be signed and returned via regular mail postmarked Dec. 26 at the latest. Of course, it is necessary for each couple to obtain their own civil union license from their town or city clerk before the ceremony.

New Hampshire's civil union law, RSA Chapter 547-A, was passed by the New Hampshire Legislature and signed by Gov. Lynch last spring. The law will go into effect on January 1, 2008. Civil union ceremonies are planned for individual couples and for groups on New Year's day all over the state.

Gail MorrisonState RepresentativeBelknap District 2Sanbornton

Will no longer goose step

To the editor: Recently, a lady wrote a letter to the editor mentioning you must support the troops and the mission.

Why?

I love our military and I would not be doing what I am doing without them, but why must we support their mission? If I do not support their mission, am I a bad patriot? Do I support al-Qaida?

How is the war in Iraq connected with al-Qaida and 9/11? Because a solid C student told us it was?

I do not and will not support this war, no matter how much I love the troops. It was a fabricated and needless war based on religion and oil. We should have finished the job in Afghanistan, which needs to be finished. But this war has been so mismanaged, there needs to be a shift in policy. Deploy the troops from Iraq to Afghanistan and finish the job.

The Russians fought the Afghans for 10 years and did not win. Why did we think we could win in four years?

Oh, and by the way, I'm a former army soldier, and an Iraq War veteran. While I served, I understood my feelings and beliefs were second to the orders of the country and the president, but now that I am a civilian, I will not goose step any longer.

Keith JohnsonRochester

Shea-Porter should be jailed

To the editor: I am outraged by the news that Carol Shea-Porter has been spending our tax dollars for political purposes. Just who does she think she is?

I get enough junk mail from political candidates in my mailbox – but I sure don't write a check to the federal government to pay for it. She should go to jail for this.

Jeannie SangenarioExeter

Tired of Clinton tactics

To the editor: I keep seeing letters to the editor signed by Hillary supporters that mention the same things that got Bill Shaheen fired.

The Clinton campaign says that this is not an official campaign effort to beat up on other candidates. Deny dirty tricks all you want but it is now time for a clean sweep. We are tired of business as usual.

New candidates will clean up the stealth tactics, political machine operators and influence peddling of the past.

Shirley Sauvageau Nottingham

Obama or McCain will unify U.S.

To the editor: As an independent looking over the landscape of presidential candidates, I ask myself: What is the one deciding factor in determining the best choice?

After meeting some of the candidates, listening and reading, I have come to the conclusion that right now — more than perhaps ever — what we need is a unifier.

Beyond policies, experience and leadership, which candidates possess the natural ability to disarm a polarized public?

Despite disagreement on policy opinions, even the general direction of where a candidate wants to take the country, which candidates can be someone we once again can proudly call our president?

For close to 20 years, we have seen the right spew hatred toward the Clintons and the left against Bush. It has been demoralizing to this country and we need to end that back and forth. But who? Giuliani and Romney are as polarizing as Hillary and Edwards — none of them will ever bring this country together. Far worse, the wounds will gash even wider.

As an independent, I would be proud to call John McCain or Barack Obama my president — our president. I disagree with each of them on many subjects, but they are both unifiers — the trump card.

Let's end the divisiveness. A unified country is the real change we are all looking for.

Luke Pickett Stratham

Sununu helped block tax bill

To the editor: Yesterday, I learned of a bill before Congress that would provide relief from the alternative minimum tax (AMT) for thousands of New Hampshire families. Granite Staters would receive tax credits for college tuition as well as tax breaks for members of the armed forces. Also, there would be deductions for school teachers buying supplies for their classrooms out of their own pockets. I was stunned to learn that this legislation did not pass, but I was not surprised to learn that our own Sen. John E. Sununu helped block this bill that would have benefited a large number of the people he was elected to serve.

For the last five years, Sen. Sununu has shown allegiance to President Bush and Republican leadership as opposed to the residents of New Hampshire which includes the more than 100,000 people that would have benefited from this particular bill.

Sen. Sununu's opposition to these tax cuts affirms that he does not represent Granite State families, students and teachers, but, in fact, is a rubber stamp for the Bush administration.

Joan HambletPortsmouth

Irony in Wolfeboro

To the editor: As the saying goes, "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore." We, as citizens of New Hampshire, need to be very embarrassed.

Late on Wednesday afternoon (Dec. 12) my eight-foot "Hillary for President" lawn sign was cut down and disappeared from the front of my property, right on the main street of Wolfeboro. After reporting it to the police (who confirmed that this type of theft is a federal offense) and replacing the sign, I was informed that at least four other such signs had been stolen from properties in our area just in this last week. One man had his taken on three different occasions.

I don't know about other areas of the state, but this problem has increased in Wolfeboro with each recent election. It has to stop. It's stupid, it's childish, it's a serious crime and, worst of all, it's bigotry.

Political bigotry is akin to racial and religious bigotry, and there is no place for any of this in the United States. And isn't this New Hampshire, after all, with the first-in-the-nation-primary, with "Live free or die" shouted from the trucks of every hunter with a rifle? Doesn't this motto suggest that we all should be free to express ourselves without fear of childish nonsense like this, whether Republican or Democrat or independent for whichever candidate each of us may choose to support?

Here we are, forcing our brand of democracy on other cultures at the whim of our government, while abusing our neighbors at home by infringing on each other's constitutional democratic rights.

There are those in Wolfeboro who hope we will be famous for becoming the summer home of a new president. It seems to me we'll more likely be infamous for our citizens not being able to truly practice democracy. How ironic is that?

Judith ApyWolfeboro

America needs John Edwards

To the editor: Ninety-nine percent of John Edwards' contributions are by individuals. Unlike his two main competitors, he's not been bought.

Fair Trade? John Edwards supports it over free trade (brought to us by Bill Clinton, killing those "days of prosperity" for the great majority and ensuring it only for multinational corporations).

Free trade slams the environment and fair labor practices. "If we want trade policies that work for working Americans, we need John Edwards. He's the only candidate with real plans to ensure that working families get their fair share of the benefits of economic growth, as noted by Leo Gerard, president of the United Steelworkers.

Troops home? John Edwards apologizes for his Iraq vote enabling Bush to seize Congress' war-making powers. He'd immediately, as president, bring home 40,000 to 50,000 combat troops, with the rest home in nine to ten months.

Farsighted thinker? "Among the leading Democratic candidates, he has the best, most comprehensive global warming program, as noted by Brent Blackwelder, president for Friends of the Earth.

"Only John Edwards is offering a sane position on nuclear power. He recognizes that it is not a viable path to the energy independence we need to achieve, " said state Rep. Jay Phinizy, of Acworth, chairman of the House Environment and Agriculture Committee.

ow refreshing! John Edwards is not in the Democratic Leadership Council loop, an outfit aptly criticized by Ralph Nader as having "a philosophy of turn-your-back-on-organized labor and open-your-pockets-to-corporations."

The DLC gave us Joe Lieberman for Al Gore's running mate in 2000. Now in 2007 Lieberman endorses Republican McCain. Dismaying.

Let's head for the future and free ourselves of corporate Democrats' baggage. We need John Edwards for president to once again have a president for the people.

Lynn Rudmin ChongSanbornton

All marriages are civil unions

To the editor: I applaud our legislators and the brave couples who will stand up in public to be united on New Year's Day 2008. Congratulations to you all for furthering personal freedom.

We have been hearing so much muddied logic about same-sex marriage, it's a shame. To quote from a recent candidate's interview, "I do not support same-sex marriage but I support civil unions with all marital rights."

What does that mean?

All marriages are civil unions in that they require a signed contract endorsed by a legally recognized agent. The agent can be a justice of the peace, a judge, a military officer, a ship's captain or a representative of a religious institution.

A civil union entitles the partners to all the rights and privileges of marriage, but it does not grant them the right to be recognized as married in a religious institution. And it never should, because in America we have a constitutional separation of church and state. This is one of the cornerstones of our legal system and effectively keeps the government out of religious decisions.

Lack of religious sanctification does not affect a couple's ability to share employee benefits, inheritance, life insurance, visiting privileges at hospitals or any other legal rights.

Although we each want to be socially accepted, honored by the community, respected as an individual and valued as a citizen safe within the protections and boundaries of law, we cannot legislate that people must like anyone or approve of their lifestyle. For now perhaps the best we can do is create laws that protect personal choice while our culture evolves to cherish diversity and truly honor the concept of free will.

Sheila Oranch Hebron

Kucinich is of, by, for the people

To the editor: Despite the sycophants and political pundits, there is just one candidate in the New Hampshire primary who stands above the others when it comes to the hard truths we must all deal with if America is once again to be a nation of, by and for the people. That man is the honorable representative from Ohio, Dennis Kucinich.

He alone has consistently voted against the Iraq War and its funding and has a solid plan to bring the troops home now. He has the only true universal health-care plan, HR 676. He will cancel NAFTA, restore habeas corpus and constitutional government, and will truly represent the interests of the American people.

I urge every person of good conscience to vote for this uniquely honest man for president.

Charles B. CarrNew Boston

Race for White House not a popularity contest

To the editor: this is an open letter to New Hampshire primary voters.

The Boston Globe's endorsement of Barack Obama sites his background and childhood years in Hawaii and Indonesia as preparation for tackling complex foreign policy issues. Barely three years in the U.S. Senate, he walked on a major vote, which condemned the Iranian Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization that has attacked Israel. While he spoke against the war in Iraq, Obama did not face the political realities of voting in the U.S. Senate. Also, no vote taken on the war in the Illinois state legislature. If the Clinton years were so bad, why did Obama recruit former Clinton advisers?

Clinton visited more than 80 countries, key to restoring our reputation globally. Efforts to provide health-care coverage for all, began at Yale where Clinton worked with poor children at Yale-New Haven Hospital. In 1993, she created "Kids First" which became SCHIP which provides health care to America's neediest children. Her 1995 speech at the World Conference on Women in China, was groundbreaking, recognizing abuse of women's human rights.

Thirty-five years experience shouldn't be dismissed in favor of gimmicks and celebrity appeal. We are electing a president. The press should stop acting like this is a popularity contest for American Idol.

David Morwick Wellesley, Mass.

Article was unfair

To the editor: Your article on domestic violence left male victims completely invisible as usual, referring to victims only as "women." That was very unfair to male victims and their children ("Take the plunge to help defeat domestic violence," Fosters.com, Dec. 2., www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071212/GJNEWS03/712120149.)

I work with men who have been stabbed, cut with glass, had their teeth knocked out with ashtrays, etc. by wives or girlfriends. They and their children deserve the same dignity as female victims, but instead they're stigmatized, ignored and downplayed.

Harvard Medical School just announced a study showing half of heterosexual domestic violence is reciprocal and women initiate most reciprocal and nonreciprocal violence.

Men are less likely to report it, which makes crime data unreliable; but sociological research consistently shows women initiate domestic violence at least as often as men and that men suffer one-third of injuries, as Cal State University Professor Martin Fiebert shows in his online bibliography at www.csulb.edu/~mfiebert/assault.htm.

When male victims don't get help, their children suffer long-term damage by the exposure and are more likely to commit the same violence as adults. We can't end this cycle by ignoring half of it. That's why a global coalition of concerned experts has formed to combat this politically-driven problem. Their website is at www.nfvlrc.org/.